Chapter Text
For the Future. {Part I}
You’re not the person you once were. ( I barely even recognize him)
They were curled up together in Mike’s bed, once again against all odds they fought together and survived. The curtain was drawn just enough for the sun to be blocked but yet just enough for the golden rays to seep into the room. It was an ordinary day, yet Will had the effect to make any day feel special. It was one of those days where they didn’t speak. They were busy thinking about the past and what they had lost. Although Mike would like to believe that Eleven was living her own life in a magical place with 3 waterfalls, it was impossible to ignore the doubt that crept into his mind. What had made Mike so sure that El was an illusion? Wouldn’t Kali have been long dead before she could even begin to trick the military?
Will shifted slightly. He could probably tell that something was on his mind. They were MikeandWill after all. Will knew all his tells and Mike knew all of Will’s.
“What's wrong Mike?” Will spoke softly.
“I don’t know. Sometimes, when everything is calm, I think about us winning against Vecna, but instead of feeling satisfied or euphoric I feel nothing. Instead I think of all the things we lost to win. There’s something's wrong with me.”
“Mike, nothing's wrong with you. It's perfectly understandable that you don’t feel overjoyed at winning when the cost was the love of your life. But to tell you a secret, I also don’t feel satisfied."
“Really?”
“Really.”
But that was just a memory. Now, Will barely knew Mike’s name. They were just strangers that knew each other a long time ago. A time where everything was simpler. Mike didn’t think that anything could be more complicated than the upside down and other related things but apparently those were referred to the “good old days” now. In fact, Mike is driving to the place where everything started. Good ol’ Hawkins Indiana. Personally, Mike would rather be anywhere else than driving to the nightmare that was the source to all his trauma, but it was the 7th anniversary, and he didn't want to miss it (unlike somebody). As he drives he can’t help but think about Will. Will with his big hazel eyes, and fluffy hair. Will when the corner of his eyes would wrinkle as he laughed at whatever. Will before he became cold and distant. When Will was still friends with Mike he had been stupid enough to push him away and act like a jerk to him. Of course nowadays when Mike actually is aware of his feelings and accepted them instead of the constant internal homophobia, Will was nowhere in his life. (He guessed that was partly his own fault for being such a douche).
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Mike, after hours of driving, finally pulls into the driveway of the familiar boring house on the end of a cul de sac. He parks the car and walks to the front door and knocks. Karen Wheeler answers the door. She gives him a once over, glancing up and down.
“You’ve certainly grown since last year Mike. One of these days I’m gonna answer the door to a beanstalk!”
Mike groans. It doesn't matter though, Karen and Mike both know he loves the teasing.
As Mike opened his mouth to reply, Holly came running down the stairs and jumped on him . She practically suffocated Mike from how tight she was hugging him.
“Mike I have sooo much to tell you! I also need help with my latest campaign. I've got the entire outline done except for the ending. I can’t decide if I should make Derrick-
Holly continued to talk but Mike was starting to get a little tired from driving all day,
“ That's great Holls. I’ll for sure help you with the ending, but I’ve had a long day and I think I'm going to rest now. But tomorrow I want to hear all about it.”
“Okay Mike! Goodnight.”
Mike couldn't help but stare as Holly turned around and walked away. Sure Holly was much older now, and has matured quite a lot, but she had never lost her spark. She was still the same quirky energetic Holly as she was before she got involved with the whole upside down thing.
Mike took his shoes off and wished good night to his mother. He grabbed his things and headed up the stairs to his childhood bedroom. Before he had left for New York, Mike hadn’t changed a thing about his room. He wanted it to be as accurate to what it would be like when he had first left. Now every year, Mike does his best not to mess with his room too much. Mike changed into his pajamas and promptly passed out into sleep.
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Will had been in his room the whole day painting for a new client. He was so focused on it that he hadn’t even realized when Carlton was standing in his doorway.
“Love? It's the 5th and I was wondering if you were doing alright.”
Will was about to question why he wouldn't be doing alright when he realized that it was November 5th Since he was so busy these days commissioning artwork for clients, the date had crept up on him. To his surprise he wasn't feeling all that bad. Although Will never told Carlton about the upside down, Will had told him about how he was lost in the woods for a week on the 6th. Well more like Will had to explain why he was very moody and irritable the first November 6th they had been dating. (He was having nightmares too but he never told Carlton about those.) Speaking of the upside down and related things, the 7th anniversary of their victory was falling upon them and he had to go back to visit Hawkins and celebrate. Every year, on the 10th, the entire party always showed up to Hawkins to reunite with each other and to take time to remember all the people they had lost.
Will realized that Carlton was still standing there awkwardly waiting for him to answer.
“Actually, I’m feeling surprisingly well. Oh and, the reunion is coming up so I have that to look forward to.”
Carlton raised his eyebrows at that.
“You’re excited to leave me for a whole two months?”
He was always overprotective like that.
“Of course not! But you know how it is. I'm excited to see my mom and Hopper. I think they might get a little sad around this time since we had lost Jane during the earthquake.”
“Just don’t forget about me” He said jokingly.
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